Pakistan will achieve an 8.3 per cent growth rate, the highest GDP rate in its history, this year which will place the country in the top five fastest growing economies of Asia, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said.
According to statistics issued with reference to the current fiscal year, GDP growth rate will soar to 8.3 per cent as against the set target of 6.6 per cent, he said, adding: "This has never occurred in the history of the country. This way Pakistan will be ranked among the five fastest developing countries of Asia."
Stressing that agriculture constituted 25 per cent of the country's GDP and 70 per cent of the population was still dependent on it, he said the government pursued a 'positive agenda' during the last five years for growth and reforms in the sector, the Pak Tribune reported.
The agriculture sector will register record growth at the rate of 7.5 per cent this year, 2.5 per cent beyond the set target, which will bring additional income ranging between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 6,000 crore in agriculture economy, Aziz said while addressing a Kisan Times awards ceremony in Lahore.
"We have broken the begging bowl and we will now obtain loans only for national development," he said.
Pointing out that the area of agriculture marketing was 'very weak,' he said two multinational companies from Holland and Germany would invest $100 million each in the country in this regard, the report said.